• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2020

Online rumor creates psychological stress and image loss for victims. Prior studies related to online rumor did not consider the online environmental factor, despite the fact that online rumor occurs in the online space. Therefore, this study tried to investigate the influence of online characteristics on online rumor. This study considered perceived anonymity, lack of social presence, and perceived dissemination as online characteristics. We established and demonstrated a research model in which online characteristics affect online rumor behavior through attitude toward online rumor. This study obtained the sample of 201 social network users based on the survey and verified the research model using PLS tool. The results provided that perceived anonymity and perceived dissemination influenced online rumor behavior through attitude toward online rumor. On the other hand, lack of social presence was not significant. The findings of this study provide the fact that an individual's online rumor behavior can be caused by online characteristics. This study suggests that we pay attention to the role of perceived anonymity and perceived dissemination for online rumor behavior.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.591-614
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• 2019

With the proliferation of social media, it has become easier for people to spread rumors online, which can aggravate the issues arising from online rumors. There are many individuals and organizations that are adversely affected by malicious online rumors. Despite their importance, there has been little research into why and how people spread rumors online, thus inhibiting the understanding of factors that affect the spreading of online rumors. With attention seeking to address this gap, this paper draws upon the dual process theory and the de-individuation theory to develop a theoretical model of factors affecting the spreading of an online rumor, and then empirically tests it using survey data from 211 individuals about a specific rumor. The results indicate that the perceived credibility of the rumor affects the individuals' attitudes toward spreading it, which consequently affects the rumor spreading behavior. Vividness, confirmation of prior beliefs, argument strength, and source credibility positively influence the perceived credibility of online rumors. Finally, anonymity moderates the relationship between attitude toward spreading online rumors and the spreading behavior.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2020

Malicious rumors often emerge online. However, few studies have examined why people spread online rumors. Recognizing that spreading online rumors is not only rational, but also emotional, this paper provides insights into the behavior of online rumor spreading using the cognitive emotion theory. The results show that perceived credibility of online rumors enhances both positive and negative emotions. However, positive emotions affect neither attitude nor behavior, whereas negative emotions affect both aspects of the spreading of online rumors. The results also indicate that prior positive attitude toward object influences negative emotions. Issues involvement moderates the relationship between attitude and behavior.